Chapter 1 Secret

Genesis's POV

Today was my grandfather Don Martinez's birthday, but I was hiding in a tree watching my uncle Eli.

Because I was just an adopted daughter taken in by Don Martinez's eldest son, Christian.

But I wasn't sad about it. I just wanted to grow up peacefully until eighteen, get into college, and leave this place. The farther away, the better.

"Miss, please take these cakes to the front hall." Susan held a tray of desserts and pleaded helplessly. "I know you don't want to go, but we're really swamped."

Susan was one of the few people in this house who was kind to me. I didn't want to refuse her.

I had to pick up the tray and quietly make my way to the front hall.

Just as I reached the doorway, a familiar voice rang out. "What are you doing here?"

It was my adoptive mother, Savannah.

I silently pointed to the desserts in my hands, indicating that I was just delivering them.

My adoptive mother clearly didn't believe me. She let out a cold laugh.

"Trying to use delivering cake as an excuse to sneak into the front hall? A bastard like you doesn't deserve it!"

Savannah didn't like me, so she wouldn't allow me to appear in front of those guests. She thought I was Christian's illegitimate daughter. On the first day I was adopted ten years ago, she held a gun to my head, wanting nothing more than to blow my brains out.

If Jordan hadn't stopped her, I probably would have died long ago.

Even after Jordan explained repeatedly that I was just his friend's orphan, she refused to believe it and continued to hate me.

She snatched the cake from my hands and gave it to another server.

"Maria dropped her brooch in the back garden. Go find it for her! Don't come back until you do!"

I simply nodded and headed toward the back garden. Over the years, I had learned to go along with her. That way she wouldn't hit me or scold me.

"I wondered why it smelled bad here. Turns out there's a bastard wandering around."

As I passed through the corridor, Maria appeared from somewhere, looking at me with disgust.

I immediately saw that the brooch on her dress was pinned perfectly in place on her clothes.

Savannah was making excuses to send me to the back garden, to make me freeze outside in this winter weather.

"A mute is just a mute. Can't even talk back."

I lowered my head and pretended to be helpless as Maria scolded me. After cursing at me for a few boring sentences, she turned and entered the banquet hall.

After she left, I still went to the back garden. The entire Martinez family was lively now, but I just wanted to be alone.

I climbed up the oak tree in the back garden. Only here was the one place that made me feel safe.

I sat on the oak tree's branches, listening to the cheerful laughter, but my mind was calculating how much longer until I could leave this place.

One more semester and I could go to college. I planned to apply to universities abroad so I could completely escape the Martinez family.

Suddenly, I heard unusual breathing sounds from below my feet.

I looked down and saw my uncle Eli with a woman!

Eli wore a burgundy shirt with the collar wide open, his solid chest muscles exposed.

He supported himself against the tree trunk with one hand, leaning close to the woman in front of him. His large hand traced along her waistline all the way down, slipping under her skirt hem and slowly moving upward.

This woman was Rebecca, the mistress of family consigliere Henry!

"You're already wet..." Eli said suggestively close to Rebecca's ear.

Rebecca arched her neck emotionally, moaning with hazy eyes.

My face immediately turned red. I never expected to stumble upon such a scene!

I quickly backed away, avoiding their flirtation.

I didn't know when they would finish. I wanted to leave quickly!

Rebecca's desperate voice continued. "Darling, give it to me! I want you!"

"So impatient?" Eli laughed frivolously.

I saw him pull off Rebecca's underwear and throw it on the grass.

Rebecca lifted her leg to wrap around Eli's waist, impatiently rubbing against him.

Even from the tree, I could see that Eli's penis was large.

Eli grabbed Rebecca's cheeks. "You think I'm that idiot Christian? Easily seduced by you? Trying to extract secrets from me? Dream on!"

Before Rebecca could even show a look of terror on her face, Eli directly pulled out a handgun and pressed it against her forehead.

Bang!

Without any hesitation, Eli shot Rebecca in the head.

I stared in horror, covering my mouth tightly, trying not to make any sound!

But the next second, Eli, with blood still on his face, looked up and met my eyes!

He had discovered me!

My mind went blank. I couldn't think about anything else and quickly slid down from the tree, running frantically toward the house.

I hoped he had already forgotten about my existence and hadn't seen my face clearly!

I ran all the way back to my room, breathing heavily as I looked out the window.

Eli and Walker's figures had long disappeared. They probably wouldn't bother with me anymore, right?

Still uneasy, I locked my door and curled up on the bed, not daring to sleep.

Jordan was attending the birthday party now and had no time to look after me. I needed to get through tonight, then tell him about this and seek Jordan's protection.

Just as I was quickly planning all this, my door handle suddenly turned!

I looked at the door in terror. The handle turned bit by bit. Someone was using a key to open my door from outside.

It was Eli!

It had to be him!

I began trembling all over!

In these ten years, although I hadn't had much contact with Eli, I had heard Susan and others mention him many times.

Legend had it that he was the most vicious in the family. If you fell into someone else's hands, you might still have a chance to survive, but almost no one survived falling into his hands.

I turned and ran toward the window. Although I was on the third floor, if I could jump out the window, I would still have a chance to survive.

I was fast, but Eli was faster.

He rushed in before I could jump and grabbed my arm, pinning me against the window.

"Little mute, you run pretty fast!"

His gravelly, magnetic voice scraped against my ear.

Eli's large hand gripped my neck, and that silver handgun I had seen before pressed against my head.

"Little mute, you saw something you shouldn't have seen. I can only send you to meet God!"